HL Deb 03 July 1967 vol 284 cc353-4

2.43 p.m.

THE EARL OF KINNOULL

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the second Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

[The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether any recent development contracts have been awarded by the Government for the design of a future freight transport aircraft.]

LORD SHACKLETON

My Lords, no proposal has been received from the industry recently for Government assistance in launching a new civil freighter aircraft. As regards military freighter aircraft, the Government have no plans for developing special aircraft designed exclusively for this role.

THE EARL OF KINNOULL

My Lords, while thanking the noble Lord for his reply, may I ask whether he could advise us what recent survey figures the Government have available on the increase of air freight traffic throughout the world in the last few years?

LORD SHACKLETON

My Lords, there are a number of figures available, for instance, on the North Atlantic route. The increase in freighting has been averaging, if my recollection is correct, 26 per cent. per annum. The figures for B.O.A.C. and B.E.A. are also of interest. In 1966 B.E.A. had an increase over 1965 of 24 per cent., and B.O.A.C. of 34 per cent.

THE EARL OF KINNOULL

My Lords, with those figures in mind, would the noble Lord not agree that if both VC.10s and BAC.111s were adopted for freight-carrying they would stand a better chance of future sales?

LORD SHACKLETON

My Lords, that question, if I may say so, with the greatest respect to the noble Earl, is outside the terms of this Question, and therefore of Standing Order No. 31. His Question was on design of freighter aircraft. There is in fact development. The present development is of aircraft that can serve both roles and be switched from one role to the other. Of course, there are arrangements for developing the VC.10 for this purpose. But I take his point: that he would like the quick change style of aircraft, and this is very much in mind. But of course there are no particular British aircraft for this. There is a proposal with regard to the BAC.111 to develop it in that direction.